Friday, 21 February 2014

Immediate action needs to be taken to address derelict A O'Smith factory following fire- O'Brien

Bray Sinn Féin representative Oliver O'Brien has called for immediate action to be taken to address the safety concerns with the derelict A O'Smith factory on the Boghall Road in Bray. He made his calls after the Fire service was called to deal with a fire in the factory on Friday afternoon.

Oliver said "The emergency services were called to the disused and now derelict A O'Smiths building on Friday

afternoon to deal with a blaze in the premises. The factory which has been derelict now since 2005 has become a huge cause of concern in the Ballywaltrim area. Two units of the fire service along with the Gardaí were called to deal with the fire which broke out on Friday afternoon. I have been informed that the building has been used for stockpiling rubbish that's being illegally dumped and that was set on fire".

He continued "My colleague Councillor John Brady has consistently been raising the issue of A O'Smiths at council level and with the owners who have left the premises abandoned and leaving the entire community at risk. Children are regularly seen playing in the factory and on its high roof. Its also used as a drugs den and anti social behavior and illegal activity has spilled from there onto the broader community. We don't want any more deaths in the factory and the council needs to ensure they hold the owners to account in securing the premises. This building needs to be immediately entered on the Derelict Sites Register to try force the hand of the owners who are based in Galway. "

O'Brien concluded "The are demands now from the community in Ballywaltrim to have the old factory demolished and i echo those demands. Not only is the building and its grounds an eyesore its an accident waiting to happen. Not far from this site two young boys lost their lives in a derelict house, so the community in the area knows the real dangers building like this pose. Action needs to be taken before its too late".